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Medical Transcription Overview
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Introduction This article was written to answer numerous posts on the BusinessKnowHow.com message boards requesting general information on medical transcription and, in particular, starting a home transcription business. I recently (1994) made the transition from MIS corporate executive to home-based medical transcriptionist, and these are the methods I used in my successful venture. The information and advice offered here is prefaced by a colossal "IN MY OPINION" as they are drawn from my personal experience. There is no single, definitive word of authority on any part of this career. There are as many ways to enter this field as there are entrants, and every working MT has his or her own opinion on the best way to prepare for success. A few short years ago, transcriptionists were known as "medical secretaries" and depended solely on OJT, a typewriter and a bulky medical dictionary. Now we have state-of-the-art hardware, complex software programs, specialty reference books, CD's and online resources, and many MT's are certified by a national association, AAMT. Our training today comes from many sources: on the job (still); under tutelage and mentoring by experienced MT's; local community college or vocational school classes; distance learning courses by excellent (and some not-so-excellent) organizations. The information in this document is a compilation of what I've learned through my own training experience with At-Home Professions, the collective wisdom garnered from many generous online MT's, my three years of MT experience as an independent contractor, plus my previous 35 years of business and writing experience. There is a great deal of information about medical transcription available to you on the Internet, especially on BusinessKnowHow.com, as well as excellent periodic newsletters and books written especially for independent MT's. If you are considering medical transcription as a career, or if you are already an MT and want to start your own home business, please use this article as just one piece of data in your research... and I wish you good luck with your decision. Also, please note that while I give some general medical transcription information, the bulk of this material is geared toward a home medical transcription business. Some references are provided at the end of this article, but you are encouraged to also do your own research into your areas of interest.
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